David Luiz gives huge hint to Barcelona

Barcelona is the team that has developed the best football in the last few years

David Luiz

Luiz wants showdown talks with Jose Mourinho to establish whether he has a future under the new Blues boss.

Barca are now keen to exploit the uncertainty by offering him a four-year deal worth £5m a year after missing out on their top defensive target Thiago Silva of PSG.

The Spanish giants are also preparing an opening offer of £21m.

But Starsport understands Chelsea will play hardball over the fee if Luiz's talks with Mourinho don't go well.

The Spaniards' valuation of Luiz is some way short of Chelsea's, which is thought to be in excess of £32m.

Manager-in-waiting Mourinho has been told by the Blues he will have to raise cash to help fund his own spending.

Luiz and his fellow defender Branislav Ivanovic are thought to be two of the more vulnerable players, partly due to the big fees they could command.

Just like Real Madrid target Luis Suarez 24 hours before him, Luiz has refused to rule out a move to Spain. He said: "My objective is to be happy and this is possible playing always in a team that controls the ball.

"Barcelona is the team that has developed the best football in the last few years. I know Barca were interested in my services in the past but now I do not have any news."

Smiling, he added: "Problems with the Spanish language? No. I speak Spanish."

Sources close to Barcelona admit they do not fancy their chances of getting former Real boss Mourinho to do them any favours.

But Barca have just signed Brazil star Neymar and the striker has been trying to convince his countryman to join him in Spain.

Chelsea have also moved a step closer to wrapping up a deal for Bayer Leverkusen forward Andre Schurrle, 22.

The two clubs have agreed a fee - believed to be £20m - and Belgium international Kevin De Bruyne will head to Leverkusen on loan for a season.

Leverkusen's general manager Wolfgang Holzhauser said: "We have reached an agreement with Chelsea."